Every day is a new adventure in the Adelie Penguin breeding colony at Cape Royds, Ross Island, Antarcitca. Our colony has about 2000 breeding pairs of Adelie Penguins and there are two of us who live in a tent about a quarter mile from the nesting sites. Dr.David Ainley who is a world authroity on Adelie Pneguins and the principal investigator for the research team that monitors several colonies on the island and Jean Pennycook , an educator, who shares Dr Ainley's work with the world.

Along the way to work each day we pass Shackelton's hut built in 1908 which is now a world heritage site and being renovated by the New Zealand's Antarctic Heritage Trust. Besides Adelie Penguins, we see Emperor Penguins, seals, whales, skuas and snow petrels at Cape Royds. In the background is Mt Erebus, one of three volcanos on Ross Island and the only active one. Follow along with our stories as the season progresses. We welcome your comments and questions.


Here are links to our web-based penguin activities.

Click here for additional information about Adelie penguins and how they are coping with climate change. Click here for additional activities you can do in your classroom.

Questions about this page? Email me.

Jean Pennycook penguin_letters@yahoo.com


Map of Ross Island showing the penguin colonies in our research study.

Cape Royds Adelie Penguin breeding colony.

What a Difference a Year Makes. Scientists use satelites to track the sea ice. The difference between 2009 and 2008 was surprising.

Nov 3, 2009

Storms and Snow Challenge the Penguins. This year there are more storms with more snow than other years. This makes the nesting process for the Adelies harder. See how they are coping.

Nov 11, 2009

 Adelies Aren't the Only Ones With the sea edge so close, Emperor Penguins are coming onto the ice and walking towards Royds. They do not breed here, so what are they doing here?

Nov 14, 2009

Fish Story Today we walk the ice crack and look for fish heads. What does this have to do with penguins?

Dec 8, 2009

Penguins 1 - Skuas 0 Penguins take revenge on a Skua who got too close. See who won.

 

Dec 12, 2009

New Life Comes to Cape Royds, Our first chicks of the year, see how they hatch!

 

Dec 18, 2009

Where Have All the Whales Gone? Commercial fishing in the Ross Sea is reducing the food source for the marine animals that live there.

 

Dec 24, 2009


Late Start for Cape Royds The Adelie Penguin breeding season had a late start this year. How will this effect the season and chick rearing? Click here to read more.

Coming soon

Penguin Match.com If you are a penguin male, how do you find a mate? A nice nest, a pretty smile, Click here to see what it takes.

Coming soon

 

Penguin Sense of Decor Not all penguin nests are built alike. Penguins have their own sense of decor. Which ones are the best?.

Coming soon